Red maple tree named ‘Miller’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct red maple tree named ‘Miller’ characterized by its broad rounded growth habit, green mildew-resistant foliage, strong wood, and early autumn coloration.

Latin name genus and species of the plant claimed: Acer rubrum.

Variety denomination: ‘Miller’.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of red mapletree, botanically known as Acer rubrum and referred by the cultivar name‘Miller’. The initially discovered tree is growing in a cultivated areaon the home grounds of the inventor Earl Cully, 846 Hoagland Road,Jacksonville, Ill. 62650, in Morgan County, in Township 14, Range 10.Asexual clones of this tree have been propagated by softwood cuttings inJune and are currently growing in the arboretum at 846 Hoagland Road,Jacksonville, Ill. 62650.

The new cultivar was selected because it possesses a 45-60° angle ofbranching and well rounded, crown form with bright red fall color thattypically begins to develop in the third week of September before otherred maple cultivars such as Red Sunset® ‘Franksred’, October Glory®, andBurgundy Belle® ‘Magnificent Magenta’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,222. The redmaple cultivars October Glory®, Red Sunset® ‘Franksred’ are also growingat the inventor's home grounds and they typically develop fall color inmid to late October. The new cultivar ‘Miller’ develops peak fall colortwo to three weeks before Red Sunset® ‘Franksred’ or October Glory® redmaple cultivars. The ‘Miller’ cultivar develops scarlet red autumnfoliage (FIG. 5) that holds until leaf senescence. This trait differsfrom ‘Magnificent Magenta’ autumn foliage that changes from burgundy toscarlet before leaf senescence.

The parent tree possesses a broad rounded crown form approximately 36feet (11 meters) in average diameter with no sign of structural failure(FIG. 1). The trunk is approximately 4 feet (1.3 meters) incircumference or 15 inches (38 cm) d.b.h. (diameter at breast height)measured 4.5 feet (137 cm) above the ground. The original tree is 36feet (11 meters) in height and is approximately 44 years of age. Visualinspection shows the original tree to be free of any defects with nosign of any breakage along the bole or in the crown, and it appears tobe in excellent health with good vigor. The leaves are a medium green onthe upper surface and a pale green on the under surface (FIG. 4). Thefoliage is free from most foliar diseases including powdery mildew. Theleaves turn a scarlet red color in autumn (FIG. 5) before senescencestarting in late September in central Illinois.

The broad rounded crown form of the ‘Miller’ cultivar lends itself topark, shade tree plantings on home lawns, city parks, streets, andindustrial sites (FIG. 2). In two to three years after asexualpropagation, the tree begins to develop a similar crown form as theparent tree with very little if any pruning necessary (FIG. 3). Thiscrown form is more compact and dense than most seedling-grown red maple.The foliage is highly resistant to powdery mildew. The original tree hasnever suffered from any observable structural failures and shows no signof decay anywhere on the bole, trunk flare, or crown.

Asexually propagated trees of the ‘Miller’ cultivar come true to formwith the same rounded crown form as the initially discovered tree andearly scarlet fall color (FIG. 6). The leaves and fruit of asexuallypropagated trees are identical to the original tree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the appearance and colorof the new ‘Miller’ red maple tree. These photographs show the color asaccurately as is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductionsof this type. Actual foliage colors may differ slightly due to lightreflectance.

FIG. 1 depicts the initially discovered tree named ‘Miller’ in summershowing its rounded crown form at approximately 39 years old

FIG. 2 depicts the ‘Miller’ cultivar maple tree with autumn foliage atapproximately 39 years old.

FIG. 3 depicts the first asexually propagated tree of the ‘Miller’cultivar in summer foliage at 15 years old.

FIG. 4 depicts the summer foliage of the ‘Miller’ cultivar, showing theabsence of powdery mildew which is typical of all the leaves.

FIG. 5 depicts autumn foliage of the ‘Miller’ cultivar.

FIG. 6 depicts the first asexually propagated tree of the ‘Miller’cultivar at 15 years old with autumn foliage that colors as intensely asthe parent plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart published in 1966.

THE PLANT Tree, Red Maple ‘Miller’

-   Name: Cultivar ‘Miller’.-   Parentage: Seedling or Sport: Seedling estimated 1969. Seed parent:    Acer rubrum unknown parent. Pollen parent: Acer rubrum unknown    parent.-   Classification: Botanic name: Acer rubrum.-   Discovered: In a cultivated area, at 846 Hoagland Road,    Jacksonville, Ill. 62650. Tissue culture and rooting of softwood    cuttings have been used to asexually propagate the ‘Miller’    cultivar. Presently, propagation is being performed at 846 Hoagland    Rd, Jacksonville, Ill. 62650 and at several nurseries in Oregon.-   Form: Tree.-   Shape: Decurrent, Broadly spreading.-   Height: 11 m (36′).-   Spread: 11 m (36′).-   Trunk size: 38 cm (15″) diameter at 137 cm (4.5′) above ground    level.-   Base: Cylindrical.-   Growth rate: Fast, with good vigor.-   Strength: Good.-   Age: Approximately 44 years.-   Bark (trunk): Grey-green (197A, B, & C) medium in texture, breaking    into thin plates.-   Branches:    -   -   Angle of attachment.—Most branch angles were 45°, with lower            branches at the base of the crown approaching 60°.        -   Spacing.—Close, most branches between 15.24 cm (6 inches) to            30.48 cm (12 inches) spacing.        -   Bark color.—Grey (201B and 201C).        -   Bark texture.—Smooth with no exfoliation. Small Twig Bark:            Texture: rough and warty, with lenticels.        -   Twig bark color.—(Growing season) grey-orange (174A) and            grey-orange (175A) (dormant season) grey-white (156D).        -   Lenticels.—Small ranging from (0.05-0.16 cm) in length,            average 0.12 cm, scattered, elliptical, raised, color            grey-orange (175 B&C).        -   Small branch bark.—(≧2.54 cm diameter) moderately rough            texture with a vertical pattern of ridges, mottled color            with grey-green (201C&D) as well as (197C&D).-   Leaves:    -   -   Petiole.—Length: (3.3-11.75 cm), average 7.6 cm in length.            Color: Summer color: yellow-green (154D). Autumn color:            grey-purple (185A). Texture: mostly smooth with some small            warts.        -   Lamina.—Length: (6.19-10.8 cm), average length 8.4 cm.            Width: (3.8-12.7 cm), average width 8.2 cm. Form: overall            shape of lamina: palmate. Shape of base: truncate to            slightly cordate. Shape of apex: acute. Margin: coarsely            toothed. Texture: membranous. Upper surface: smooth. Lower            surface: smooth. Quantity: abundant. Color: spring upper            side: grey-purple (185A) after bud break transitioning to            yellow-green (154A). Lower side: grey-purple (186D)            transitioning to yellow-green (154C). Summer upper side:            green (143A). Lower side: yellow-green (148D). Autumnal            upper side: red (45C&D), grey-purple (185A). Lower side:            grey-purple (186D&C). Ribs and veins: number of pairs: 3            main veins. Venation pattern: palmate. Vein color:            yellow-green (154D).-   Buds: (Vegetative) (0.37-0.53 cm) in length, average 0.48 cm long,    grey-orange (146B, C, & D) in color, with 2-4 pairs of imbricate    scales with some pubescence.-   Flowers: Monoecious, polygamous with perfect and staminate flowers    appearing just before the unfolding of the new leaves. Flowers are    red in color (45A & B).-   Fruit: Samara, average 2.5 cm in length.

This cultivar displays a symmetrically rounded crown enhanced by clean,green summer foliage and pleasing early, scarlet red autumn foliage. Ithas excellent strength, with no visible signs of broken branches orpockets of rot in the crown, excellent hardiness, and drought tolerance.This red maple has good cold and drought tolerance which is typical ofthe species. The ‘Miller’ cultivar has experienced low temperatures of−28° F. without any damage. This cultivar differs from other red mapleby exhibiting early fall color that begins in late September in centralIllinois. In contrast, October Glory® and Red Sunset® ‘Franksred’develop fall color in mid to late October. The ‘Miller’ red maplecultivar has scarlet red autumn foliage (FIG. 5) until leaf drop. Thischaracteristic differs from ‘Magnificent Magenta’ autumn foliage thatchanges from burgundy to scarlet before leaf drop.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of red maple tree Acerrubrum, named ‘Miller’ as illustrated and described.